How to Cite TED Talks in Chicago 17 Format

TED Talks occupy a unique space in academic citation because they function as both presentations and online videos. Unlike a typical conference lecture, TED Talks are produced, edited, and published on a dedicated platform with their own URLs, timestamps, and metadata. The Chicago Manual of Style, 17th Edition treats them as online multimedia content, which means your citation must account for the speaker, the talk title, the publishing organization (TED), the date, and the URL. Getting these details right matters because TED Talks are increasingly cited in fields ranging from education and business to psychology and public health.

This guide covers the specific rules for citing TED Talks in Chicago 17 format, building on the general principles in our presentation citation guide. Whether the talk was viewed on TED.com, YouTube, or at a TEDx event, you'll find the correct format below.

Where to Find Citation Information on TED Talks

Gathering accurate metadata from TED Talks is straightforward once you know where to look. Here is exactly where to find each element:

• Speaker name: Displayed prominently above or beside the video player on the talk's page. Use the name as TED lists it — some speakers use middle initials or professional titles that should be omitted in your citation.
• Talk title: The title appears in large text directly below the video. Copy it exactly, including any subtitle separated by a colon. Do not include "TED Talk" or similar labels that TED adds to the page heading.
• Video duration: Shown on the video player's progress bar. Hover over or play the video to confirm the total runtime. Format it as minutes:seconds (e.g., 18:04).
• Date: Scroll below the video description on TED.com; the posting date typically appears as a month and year (e.g., "Posted Jun 2006"). Use this posted date, not the date the live event took place, unless you are citing the live event itself.
• URL: Copy the clean URL from your browser's address bar. TED.com URLs follow a consistent pattern: https://www.ted.com/talks/speaker_name_title. Remove any query parameters like ?language=en or session tracking codes.
• TEDx event name: For TEDx talks, the event name (e.g., TEDxHouston) appears in the video description and often in the title card. This information is essential for distinguishing TEDx from flagship TED events.

Detailed Examples

Example 1: Standard TED Talk

A flagship TED Talk viewed on TED.com follows the most common pattern:

Note that "Sir" is part of how TED identifies this speaker and is retained. The medium descriptor "TED video" tells readers this is an online recording, not a live presentation you attended.

Example 2: TEDx Talk

TEDx events are independently organized under a TED license. Chicago style requires you to specify the TEDx event to distinguish it from a flagship TED conference:

Including "Filmed at TEDGlobal 2009" provides context about the original event. For a local TEDx talk, you would write "Filmed at TEDxHouston" or whichever event applies.

Example 3: TED Talk Viewed on YouTube

Many researchers encounter TED Talks on YouTube rather than TED.com. When citing the YouTube version, adjust the medium descriptor and URL accordingly:

Key differences from the TED.com version: "YouTube video" replaces "TED video," "posted by TED" identifies the channel, and the date format may be more specific (YouTube shows the exact upload date). When possible, cite the TED.com version for stability, as YouTube URLs occasionally break.

Example 4: TED-Ed Lesson

TED-Ed content has a different production model — it typically features a narrator with animation rather than a live speaker. Cite the educator (content creator) as the author:

Use "TED-Ed video" as the medium descriptor to clarify this is an educational lesson, not a conference talk.

Step-by-Step Instructions

For a Notes-Bibliography (NB) Citation

1. Identify the speaker. Use the full name as listed on TED.com. In footnotes, first name comes first. In the bibliography, invert to Last Name, First Name.
2. Copy the talk title exactly. Place it in quotation marks. Capitalize headline-style (all major words capitalized). Include any subtitle after a colon.
3. Determine the event context. If the talk was delivered at a specific event (TEDGlobal, TEDx[City]), include "Filmed at [Event]" after the title.
4. Write the medium descriptor. Use "TED video" for talks on TED.com, "YouTube video" for YouTube, or "TED-Ed video" for TED-Ed lessons.
5. Add the duration. Format as minutes:seconds immediately after the medium descriptor, separated by a comma (e.g., "TED video, 18:33").
6. Include the date. Use the posted/published date from TED.com. Month and year is sufficient for TED.com citations; YouTube may warrant a full date.
7. Add the URL. Use the clean, permanent URL. Do not include access dates unless your instructor or publisher requires them.
8. Punctuate correctly. Footnotes use commas between elements and end with a period. Bibliography entries use periods between major elements.

For an Author-Date Citation

If you are using Chicago's author-date system (more common in the sciences), format the reference list entry as:

Move the year immediately after the author name, and omit the month from the date position since the year is already stated.

Common Mistakes When Citing TED Talks

1. Using "TED Talk" as the Medium Descriptor

Incorrect: Brown, Brené. "The Power of Vulnerability." TED Talk, 20:19. June 2010.

Correct: Brown, Brené. "The Power of Vulnerability." TED video, 20:19. June 2010.

Chicago treats this as a video source. The descriptor should indicate the format ("video"), not the brand label ("Talk"). Use "TED video" to align with Chicago's convention for online multimedia.

2. Omitting the Video Duration

The runtime helps readers locate and verify the source. Chicago guidelines for multimedia sources recommend including the length. Always write it as minutes:seconds, even for short talks.

3. Using the Event Date Instead of the Posted Date

A TED Talk may be filmed in February but published online in June. Use the online publication date — that's when the version you watched became available. If the event date matters for context, include it with "Filmed at [Event], [Year]."

4. Including Tracking Parameters in URLs

Incorrect: https://www.ted.com/talks/brene_brown?language=en&subtitle=en

Correct: https://www.ted.com/talks/brene_brown_the_power_of_vulnerability

Strip query strings and tracking parameters. The base URL is the permanent, shareable link.

5. Confusing TEDx with TED

TEDx events are independently organized and must be distinguished from flagship TED conferences. Failing to note "TEDx" when applicable misrepresents the source's origin and editorial oversight.

6. Italicizing the Talk Title

TED Talk titles go in quotation marks, not italics. Italics are reserved for titles of longer, standalone works (books, films, albums). A single talk is a shorter work within the TED platform, analogous to an article or chapter.

Special Cases

Citing a Specific Timestamp

When referencing a particular moment in a talk, include the timestamp in your footnote:

The specific timestamp (14:32) appears after the date, indicating the exact point in the video you are referencing.

Citing a TED Talk Transcript

If you are working from the written transcript rather than the video, note this in your citation:

TED Talk with Multiple Speakers

Some TED Talks feature two or more co-presenters. List all speakers, separated by "and":

Frequently Asked Questions

Should I cite the TED.com version or the YouTube version?

Cite whichever version you actually watched. If both are available and you have a choice, prefer the TED.com version. TED.com URLs are more stable, include curated metadata (transcripts, speaker bios), and the posted dates are more reliably tied to the original publication. If you watched the YouTube version, cite that — do not swap URLs to a version you didn't consult.

Do I need to include an access date for TED Talk citations?

Chicago 17 generally does not require access dates for online sources with stable URLs. TED.com URLs are persistent, so an access date is typically unnecessary. However, if your professor, journal, or publisher specifically requires access dates, add it at the end: "Accessed March 5, 2026." When in doubt, check your assignment guidelines or style sheet.

How do I cite a TED Talk that has been removed or is no longer available?

If a talk has been taken down, cite it as you normally would but add a note: "no longer available" or "removed from TED.com" after the URL. If you accessed it through an archived version (e.g., the Wayback Machine), provide the archive URL instead. This situation also strengthens the case for including an access date.

Is there a difference between citing a TED Talk in a footnote versus an endnote?

No. Chicago 17 uses identical formatting for footnotes and endnotes — the only difference is placement (bottom of the page versus end of the chapter or document). The numbering, punctuation, and content of the note are exactly the same regardless of where they appear. Your choice between footnotes and endnotes is a document-level decision, not a citation-level one.

TED Talks vs. Other Presentation Types

Understanding how TED Talk citations differ from other presentation citations helps avoid format errors:

The key distinction is that TED Talks are published, edited video content with permanent URLs — treat them as online multimedia rather than ephemeral live presentations. For complete guidance on the Chicago citation system, see our Chicago 17th Edition guide.